Drill pipe protector



Jan. 3, 1933. J. H. 'CUSHING DRILL PIPE PROTECTOR Filed May 25. 1929 .m w M Patented Jan. 3, 1933 amaze JOHN H. CUSHING, OF L013 ANGELES, CALIFORNIA DRILL PIPE PROTECTOR Application filed May 23, 1929. Serial No. 365,294.

My invention relates to means for use in connection with pipes, rods and other instruments employed in drilling wells and it has especial reference to a device for attachment 5 to drill rods or pipes of rotary drilling rigs to maintain same in a true unvarying line and prevent same from contacting with the Wall of the well casing or of an open hole.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple appliance which may be readily positioned and locked upon drill pipe, prevent the pipe from whipping during the drilling operation.

Other and important objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character which will maintain the drill pipe in perpendicular posit-ion at all times; which will pre vent the drill pipe from striking against the casing or the wall of an open hole; and which will keep the drill pipe centered thus insuring a straight hole.

These and other objects are attained by the invention set out in detail in the following specification and expressed in one of its de- 5 sirable forms in the accompanying drawing,

which forms a part thereof.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing my invention as applied to 3 drill pipe.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is a detail of one of the resilient members.

Fig. 4; is a fragmentary detail of a form of 3 device that may be used to secure the protector to the drill pipe, and,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

The invention consists of a means attach- 3 able to and rotatable with a rotary drill rod or pipe, and provided with resilient members in which are disposed anti-friction means arranged for engagement with the casing in a hole or with the wall of the hole to maintain the drill rod or pipe in a straight line, prevent vibration of the drill rod, to remove strain from the joints and couplings of the drill pipe and to prevent crystallization of the drill pipe due to persistent vibration.

In a specific sense, the invention shown in a particular embodiment in the drawing, comprises a pair of split rings or hands 1 and 2, of resilient material, the inner face of the upper band or ring 1 being roughened or knurled for the purpose of obtaining a firm and rigid grip upon the drill rod or pipe 3, when tightened thereupon by the means presently described, and the inner face of the lower ring or band 2 being smooth and arranged to encircle the drill rod or pipe so that it may move relatively thereto. By means of a locking device on the ring or band 1, the band 1 is arranged to be tightened upon the drill rod or pipe 3 in such rigid manner that it will rotate with the drill rod and by means of a similar locking device on the band or ring 2, the ends of the band 2 are arranged to be drawn toward each other in such manner that the band 2 will loosely encircle the drill rod. A form of fastening means for this F purpose is illustrated in detail in Fi g. l, and comprises a lever 4- pivotally secured in a lug 5 on one end of each of the bands or rings 1 and 2. To the lever 4: is pivotally attached a loop or link 6 which is arranged for engagementwith a lug 7, provided on the other end of each of said rings or hands 1 and 2. By the operation of said lever 4, the relative movement of the ends of the band is accomplished for the purposes stated. The respective rings or bands 1 and 2 are held relatively spaced by spring units 8, the ends of which are provided or formed with loops or eyes 9 through which are arranged to extend pins or bolts 10 supported between pairs of equally spaced lugs 1 and 2 provided on and projecting from said rings or bands 1 and 2 respectively. The spring units 8 are outwardly bowed and are provided intermediate the ends thereof with enlarged portions 11, in which are formed depressions or countersinks 12, for anti-friction means, such as balls 13, which are arranged to be held within the depressions or countersinks by retainers 14, se cured to said enlarged portions 11 of the spring units 8. The depressions or countersinks 12 are provided with openings 12 through which detrital or other accumulations may pass, should they collect in the depressions 12 during the operation or rotation of'the balls 13 against the wall of an open hole. The outer edges of the enlarged portions 11 of the spring units are inwardly bent or curved, as at 15, for the purpose of enabling the spring units 8 to pass smoothly and freely over the wall of an open hole, should the anti-frictionballs 13 be projectedinto the formation sufliciently for ;to cause them.- larged portions thereof to contact with the well wall. This is of considerable importance when drilling a well without the use of casing, because without this curviformv provision, the engagement of the edges of the spring units with the formation, during the drilling operation would tend to break them and thus throw 'the drill rod or pipe from a central line.-

In practice, the device is slippedover the drill-rod or pipe, and only the upper ring 2001 bandl is securely fastened thereon, the

band 2 surrounding the rod or drillpipe with sufficient loosenessto enable it to play relativ'ely to said rod or pipe and to therband 1' as the spring units 8 are flexed or accommo- 2 5 1 date themselves to surface variations. Normally the radii of the anti-friction balls 13 and. spacing said rings, said spring members provided intermediate the ends thereof with enlarged portions having inwardly curving edges and with perforated depressions, balls'seatedin said depressions and means to retain said balls in said depressions;

In testimony whereof I have set my handi JOHN H. CUSHING;

are greater than the diameter of the well hole I or the casing, so that upon introduction. of thedrill rod with the protector,into the hole '30 or casing, the spring units 8 are compressed,

and remain under tension during drilling operations.

What I claim, is: 1. A device for attachment to a rotary drill 5 -rodto center same in a well and prevent vibration, comprising a split ring arranged to encircle a-drill rod and provided with means for locking sa d ring thereon agalnst' long;-

7 tudinal' and relatively rotary movement, a m-second split ring loosely encircling said drill rod and provided with means for holding the ends thereof together, each of said rings pro vided; with a series of spaced lugs, a plurality of outwardly bowed spring members the ends of which extend between said spaced lugs, means carried by said lugs to connect said spring members removably therewith and hold said rings spaced, the central portions of said spring members having'depressions, balls carried in said depressions and means to retain said balls in position. 7

2; Aedevice for attachment to a rotary drill rod comprising a pair of spaced split rings adapted to encircle said drill rod, means car-- riedby one of said rings to lock same on saiddrill rod to cause same to rotate therewith, means carried by the other of said rings to conjoin the ends thereof, said other ring loosely encir'clingthe drill rod, both said 0 rings-havii'ig a series of outwardly directly spaced lugs, a'series of outwardly bowed spring members, their respective ends eX-" tending between said lugs, means carried'by said lugs to connect the ends'of saidsprings -removab1ytherewith, said spring members 

